Romario Valentine, a 14-year-old environmental trailblazer and self-described “ornithophile” (bird lover) from Durban, South Africa. He’s been on a mission to protect the planet since he was just six years old, starting with research into how pollution harms marine life like turtles, whales, albatrosses, and penguins.
Romario has already achieved impressive milestones for someone so young:
- Authored a conservation book called Protect Our Planet – Take Action with Romario (published by Penguin Random House SA).
- Won multiple awards, including the WESSA Youth Environmental Award, Pick n Pay Hero Award, BirdLife South Africa Owlet Award, and international recognitions like the Action for Nature Eco-Hero Award (US) and Marine Conservation Society UK Young Optimist of the Year.
- Serves as a SANParks Junior Honorary Ranger.
- Acts as an ambassador for initiatives like Ocean Sole (upcycling flip-flops into art in Kenya) and Youth for Lions.
- Uses his own artwork to raise awareness and inspire action.
His latest effort is the 2026 Romario’s Seabirds Conservation campaign on the BackaBuddy crowdfunding platform. He’s aiming to raise funds (recent reports mention a target around R30,000) to support three key South African projects, with donations split equally:
- SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) — rehabilitating and protecting the critically endangered African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), whose population has plummeted dramatically due to overfishing, oil spills, and other threats.
- BirdLife South Africa’s Albatross Task Force — reducing seabird bycatch in fishing operations.
- Mouse-Free Marion Project — protecting seabird colonies on Marion Island from invasive mice.
Seabirds like these play a vital role as “nutrient recyclers” in marine ecosystems, so Romario’s work helps the broader ocean health. He also has a long history of supporting local spots like Durban’s Umgeni River Bird Sanctuary and Birds of Eden in Plettenberg Bay.
If you’re in Durban or South Africa and want to help this local teen make a real difference, you can back his campaign directly on BackaBuddy (search for “Romario’s Seabirds Conservation”). Every bit counts toward saving these amazing birds—one penguin at a time.
African penguins are unique to southern Africa and face serious challenges, but passionate young people like Romario are giving them a fighting chance. Great to see such dedication from a Durban kid!
